Are three-time champion Warriors best ever? How they'd fare against NBA's greatest teams

Are the three-time champion Warriors the greatest NBA team of
all time?

That's going to be the quick-time discussion after watching the
Warriors dispose of the Cavaliers to win the 2018 NBA Finals. The
core of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond
Green indeed made history, and as a result we're going to want to
prop them up against that history. Pick whichever one of those
three championship teams you want.

We just watched Golden State beat a Cleveland team that featured
LeBron James for the second straight season with a combined 8-1
Finals record. Given the Warriors have beaten the Cavs three times
in four years, we'll give them the advantage in that rivalry.

What about other former champions? Which teams would you take
over the Warriors? That list might be short. Here are 12 teams
since the NBA-ABA merger we'd love to see play against Golden
State, and who we think would win in that series.

Agree to disagree, right?

Getty Images

#1

1982-83 76ers

Records: 65-17 regular season, 12-2
playoffs

What we'd love: These were the famous "fo',
fo', fo'" Sixers that backed up Moses Malone's bold prediction and
tore through the postseason. Malone, who averaged 24.5 points and
15.3 rebounds that season, and Julius Erving finally won their
championship rings. The parallels with Erving and Durant are
there, and that matchup would be off the hook. How would the
Warriors deal with Malone? How would the 76ers' underrated
backcourt of Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney hold up against the
Splash Brothers?

Who wins? Warriors in seven. It could go the
other way if Erving outplays Durant.

Getty Images

#2

​1985-86 Celtics

Records: 67-15 regular season, 15-3
playoffs

What we'd love: Larry Bird and Kevin McHale
were at the top of their games, and Boston had Bill Walton
coming off the bench to back up Robert Parish. Boston went 40-1 at
home and scored 114.1 points per game. Would Dennis Johnson and
Danny Ainge slow down Golden State's backcourt? The matchup between
Bird and Durant would be an all-timer.

Who wins? Warriors in seven, unless they don't
have home-court advantage. In that case, we might take the Celtics.
The teams had identical records, so we'll let you break the
tie.

Getty Images

#3

1986-87 Lakers

Records: 65-17 regular season, 15-3
playoffs

What we'd love: This would be the most
up-and-down series of all time. The Lakers have four players who
averaged 17 points or more in Magic Johnson, James Worthy,
Byron Scott and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Seven LA players averaged
double figures. Who guards Durant? Who guards Kareem? The matchup
possibilities are fantastic.

Who wins? Lakers in seven. We can't pick
against Magic and Kareem here, but this wouldn’t be a sweep, right
Draymond? This is the toughest one to pick on this list, which
makes it that great.

What we'd love: We need to know the rules
before they hit the court. How physical would the Pistons be able
to get with the Warriors? The backcourt matchup of Curry and
Thompson against Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars would be fun. Perhaps
Detroit would put Dennis Rodman on Durant. How long until Bill
Laimbeer and Draymond Green get a double technical?

Who wins? Warriors in six. The rules would
determine everything here, however. If the refs let them play, then
this underrated Pistons team has a shot.

What we'd love: The Bulls burned through the
playoffs for the first of six championship runs, and Michael Jordan
had help from double-digit scorers Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant.
Chicago ranked fourth in the league in points allowed, too. How
much hand-checking would the refs allow? Would MJ or Pippen guard
Durant?

Who wins? Warriors in seven. Hold the
outrage. We'll see the Bulls again on this list soon.

What we'd love: This would've been a unique
challenge for the Warriors because Hakeem Olajuwon was at the top
of his game and had an excellent supporting cast with five players
that averaged double figures. Kenny Smith and Vernon Maxwell would
be X-factors in this series with their shooting, and keep in mind
Sam Cassell and Mario Elie came off the bench. The contrast in
styles would lead to some close games.

Who wins? Warriors in six. Golden State
would have to be on top of their game to counter Olajuwon, but they
get the job done.

Getty Images

#7

1995-96 Bulls

Records: 72-10 regular season, 15-3
playoffs

What we'd love: This is the dream matchup. The
Bulls' best team under Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan against the
Warriors' best championship team to date. The matchups? Jordan and
Pippen combined for almost 50 points per game that year, and role
players such as Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc helped a
defense that allowed 92.9 points per game. Rodman vs. Green would
be an intriguing matchup. How would Steve Kerr the player fare
against Kerr the coach?

Who wins? Bulls in seven. Finally,
somebody took MJ to a seventh game.

What we'd love: This is tough because we could
have taken the 1999-2000 Lakers instead, a 67-win team that
featured Glen Rice as the third-leading scorer. We took the
following team, one that had Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant both
averaging more than 28 points per game. It had a few pieces from
Phil Jackson's legendary Bulls teams in Horace Grant and Ron
Harper, and role players in Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Robert
Horry. The contrast in styles would be great. How would Fisher and
Fox defend Curry and Durant? How would the Warriors handle Shaq and
Kobe?

Who wins? Lakers in seven. Of all the
hypothetical series on this list, this one might just be the
best.

Getty Images

#9

2002-03 Spurs

Records: 60-22 regular season, 16-8
playoffs

What we'd love: We wanted to put the 1998-99
team on this list, which blew through the playoffs on a
strike-shortened season, but Gregg Popovich's second championship
team featured Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to go along with Tim
Duncan, David Robinson, Malik Rose, Stephen Jackson and Bruce
Bowen. It's a loaded team that was methodical enough to give this
Warriors team a run for their money. Would Bowen have an
impact on Curry?

Who wins? Warriors in six. Should we have gone
with the 1998-99 Spurs when Robinson had a larger role
instead?

What we'd love: This veteran team bolted out to
a 29-3 start. Despite a tough playoff road, the core of Paul
Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen led the Celtics to
a championship. That's a super team that could hang with
another one, no doubt about it. Boston also played great defense,
allowing just 90.3 points per game.

Who wins? Warriors in seven. The Celtics
wouldn't go away lightly, and this series would get real
chippy.

Getty Images

#11

2012-13 Heat

Records: 66-16 regular season, 16-7
playoffs

What we'd love: This was the second of
back-to-back championships for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris
Bosh, and the addition of Ray Allen didn't hurt. That's a super
team that could stack up to the Warriors and make for an
interesting series. Would Wade and James be able to outperform
Curry and Durant? Shane Battier and Mike Miller would be key role
players in the series.

Who wins? Warriors in seven. It's the
home-court advantage in a tight series. James, however, could
absolutely steal it for the Heat given the supporting
cast.

What we'd love: This team chewed up the Heat in
five games to win the NBA championship, and featured six players
that averaged double figures. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker led the
way, and Kawhi Leonard won NBA Finals MVP. At least he would be on
the floor for this series, right?

Who wins? Warriors in six. The familiarity
would create a series that would have been far better than this
year's Western Conference finals.